PORTLAND, Ore. – No. 18 Pepperdine scored first, but Portland controlled the match from there seizing a 3-1 West Coast Conference victory Friday night at Merlo Field. The Waves (12-5, 3-2 WCC) could not capitalize on some opportunities and the Pilots (9-4-3, 3-1-1 WCC) did en route to their third consecutive league victory.

Anisa Guajardo (Clovis, Calif./Buchanan HS) gave the Waves a lead in the opening period with her eighth tally of the season in the 39th minute off an assist from goalkeeper Roxanne Barker (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS).

Pepperdine took a 1-0 lead into the intermission in front of a crowd of 3,033 on a cool night in Portland. The advantage would not last long.

Portland scored three unanswered goals in less than 10 minutes to start the second half. Michelle Cruz scored her first goal of the season in the 49th minute, followed by a game-winner from Amanda Frisbie in the 56th. Frisbie’s tally tied Pepperdine’s Amanda LeCave (Windsor, Calif./Windsor HS) for the WCC goals lead (10).

Cruz scored again in the 57th minute, providing some insurance for the Pilots. Pepperdine generated some opportunities after the intermission, including two dangerous chances off corner kicks, but could not convert.

“It was a tough game,” Pepperdine head coach Tim Ward said. “We played well in the first half and created some dangerous scoring opportunities. In the second half, they caught fire for about 15 minutes and after their equalizer, we couldn’t quell the flames. It was a good game of soccer and they have a nice team. We look to bounce back against a tough Gonzaga side on Sunday.”

Portland held a 20-16 shot advantage and a 12-8 edge in shots on goal. Guajardo recorded a team-high five, three on target, while Frisbie launched a match-high six, four on frame.

Barker recorded nine saves on a busy night between the pipes. Erin Dees collected the win and made seven saves.

Pepperdine looks to bounce back when it plays its final regular season road contest Sunday, October 28 at Gonzaga. Match time against the Bulldogs is set for 1:00 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.